Improvement in folding egg-packages



' W. E. KING. Folding Egg- Package.

Patented .Sept.- 2, 1879.

Wa'n ess as UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WHITNEY E. KING, OF PLYMOUTH, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING EGG-PACKAGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2 [9,273, dated September 2, 1879 application filed May 18, 1878.

- Plymouth,in the county of Hancock and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in Folding Egg-Packages; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in packages for transporting eggs.

It has for its object to provide a package economic and simple in its construction, and one which is designed to accompany the con-' tained eggs into the hands of the consumer.

With these ends in view, my invention con sists of a folding package 'of straw-board or other suitable material, so formed that it is partially folded to form a suitable receptacle for a given number of eggs, and then finally folded to inclose the same, being securely fastened and ready for transportation, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Previous to my invention, so far as I am aware, the many improvements made in packing-boxes or egg'carriers have had in view simply the transportation of the contained eggs to the hands of the dealer, the packages being of such size and construction as to render it necessary or desirable from an economic standpoint to preserve the packages and return the same to the shipper.

My improved folding egg-carrier, while it is designed to be of such economic construction as that it is not necessary to return the same, is yet so constructed that, if desirable so to do, it may be unfolded or flattened out, so that delivers the package complete to the consumer.

In order that those skilled may understand my invention, Iwill proceed to describe the construction and advantages of the same and the manner of using it, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, in whicl1-- Figure 1 is a plan view of one of my improved packages unfolded or flattened into the condition it would be in as it leaves the machine or hands of the artisan making the same. Fig. 2 is a perspective view after the blank has been folded into position to receive the eggs 5 and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the package completely folded to confine the eggs, andwith its overlapping ends, &c., fastened into position ready for transportation.

Similar letters indicate like parts in the several figures, and the solid or common linesindicate complete cuts through the straw-board or other material, while the dotted or broken lines indicate scars or partial cuts on the rear side, and at which points the folds are made.

To form the package, fill the same, and se- 1 curely fasten it, the flat blank shown at Fi l is folded into the condition seen at Fig. 2, in the following manner: The extreme lower corner-pieces, AA, and the corner-pieces B B, above the same, are bent up at right angles. The lower portion, 0, is then bent up at right angles on the dotted line 1. It is then folded over on the dotted line 2, and again on the line 3, which brings to view the rear side of the flap or shelf D, which is perforated to form a series of egg-cells, E, to give proper vertical support to the eggs. The ends F of the shelf D are then closed inwardly on the lines 4 to confine the corner-pieces A A and B B, when the ends G G of what has now become the bottom H of the box are folded upwardly at right angles on the lines 5 5, the ends G G being in length about equal to the height of the largestsized egg stood on end. Support the top and bottom at proper distance apart. In this position, which may be maintained by suitable clamps or other means on a packing-table, the eggs are placed in the cells E, their ends resting on the bottom H.

The next step is to fold the blank toward the operator on the line 6, then on 7, and finally on S, which forms the back 1, top K, and front L of the package. The ends M M of the back I and the ends N N of front L are slit or cut out, as seen at O O, and the ends P P of the top K are formed with the tongues Q Q 5 and when the folds have been made at the lines 6,

7, and 8, as above described, the end pieces M M and N N are folded at right angles, on the lines 10 and 11, against the ends G of the box, and then the ends I P of the top K are folded down at right angles, on the lines 12, and the tongues Q Q forced into the openings 0 0,

thus securely fastening all the folds in place, the peculiarity of the design and method of folding being such that when completed there is reciprocal support among all the parts, rendering the package very compact and strong.

It will be observed that the unbroken fiber of the inside of the box sustains the several flaps in position until they are partially broken by folding, which facilitates the operation of folding and packing. The shelf D is supported in an obvious manner by the corner-pieces A B and side pieces, 0 C; but additional support may be given by forming legs or props It at any desirable number of places. These legs are formed of the stock which would otherwise be cut out in making thecells E by simply cutting centrally across the cell and folding the wings down from opposite directions.

I do not wish to confine myself to the exact configurations or dimensions shown in the scarred, cut, and folded so as to form and support an inclosed shelf, substantially as shown and described.

2. A blank for an egg-package, capable of being folded and secured in position to form an egg-package and an inclosed and surrounded egg-shelf, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 17th day of May, 1878.

W. E. KING. 1.. s.]

In presence of WM. 0. MCINTIRE, ARTHUR L. MCINTIRE. 

